Post by jeanne on Jun 3, 2018 18:22:49 GMT 1

Nope, I got my turtle after coming back from US. Besides, I only resided in NYC.

When I was a child, pet stores sold hundreds of young turtles. Most people did not know how to properly care for the turtles and they usually died after a year or so, then they would go back and buy another. They were referred to as red-eared turtles, so I suspect they were sliders. They were most likely imported to be sold as pets.

In the 1970's it was discovered that many of the turtles were carrying salmonella and in some cases infecting their owners. Laws were passed to prohibit the large-scale selling of these turtles. But up until that point, I'm sure many were released/escaped to the wild and thrived there, thus becoming an invasive element.

Post by Bonobo on Jun 16, 2018 9:00:18 GMT 1

Nope, I got my turtle after coming back from US. Besides, I only resided in NYC.

When I was a child, pet stores sold hundreds of young turtles. Most people did not know how to properly care for the turtles and they usually died after a year or so, then they would go back and buy another. They were referred to as red-eared turtles, so I suspect they were sliders. They were most likely imported to be sold as pets.

In the 1970's it was discovered that many of the turtles were carrying salmonella and in some cases infecting their owners. Laws were passed to prohibit the large-scale selling of these turtles. But up until that point, I'm sure many were released/escaped to the wild and thrived there, thus becoming an invasive element.

Yes, red-eared turtles are sliders.

Salmonella is a potential risk but mostly when you don`t take proper care of the animal e.g,, you don`t wash it in running water.

Post by Bonobo on Oct 6, 2018 6:07:43 GMT 1

Sorry, my mistake. I don't know if it was a he, but I prefer to use a gender specific pronoun rather than refer to an animal as an "it." That's just the way I am.

I think that vulture is a magnificent-looking bird...I hope he or she is okay after his or her injury!

That`s interesting. Because birds are generally male in gender pronouns or only this particular species is one ?

Fortunately, that vulture wasn`t injured, just exhausted by a long journey to Poland (winds!), they live in the mountains of southern Europe, the last time the species nested in Poland was 100 years ago.

Post by jeanne on Oct 6, 2018 18:09:11 GMT 1

Sorry, my mistake. I don't know if it was a he, but I prefer to use a gender specific pronoun rather than refer to an animal as an "it." That's just the way I am.

I think that vulture is a magnificent-looking bird...I hope he or she is okay after his or her injury!

That`s interesting. Because birds are generally male in gender pronouns or only this particular species is one ?

Bonobo, are you thinking in English or some other language? The masculine pronoun is used for males birds if the gender is known, and accordingly the female pronoun for females if gender known. Otherwise, they are referred to as "it" like you correctly did. I did admit referring to the bird as he, and said that was my mistake...but I still like using the gender pronoun, or should I say I still like to take the liberty of using the gender pronoun?

Fortunately, that vulture wasn`t injured, just exhausted by a long journey to Poland (winds!), they live in the mountains of southern Europe, the last time the species nested in Poland was 100 years ago.

Wow, so bird-watchers must have been enjoying the vulture's unusual visit! I'm glad it is okay!

Post by Bonobo on Oct 6, 2018 18:18:11 GMT 1

Bonobo, are you thinking in English or some other language? The masculine pronoun is used for males birds if the gender is known, and accordingly the female pronoun for females if gender known. Otherwise, they are referred to as "it" like you correctly did. I did admit referring to the bird as he, and said that was my mistake...but I still like using the gender pronoun, or should I say I still like to take the liberty of using the gender pronoun?

I am talking about English. You said you prefer to use gender specific pronouns. I thought that your choice of "he" for a bird is somehow influenced linguistically, like you always call ships "she" and death "he." In Polish the endings suggest the gender in every animal name, kormoran is a masculine type, while "sowa," owl, is feminine because it ends with "a."

Post by jeanne on Oct 6, 2018 22:02:22 GMT 1

Bonobo, are you thinking in English or some other language? The masculine pronoun is used for males birds if the gender is known, and accordingly the female pronoun for females if gender known. Otherwise, they are referred to as "it" like you correctly did. I did admit referring to the bird as he, and said that was my mistake...but I still like using the gender pronoun, or should I say I still like to take the liberty of using the gender pronoun?

I am talking about English. You said you prefer to use gender specific pronouns. I thought that your choice of "he" for a bird is somehow influenced linguistically, like you always call ships "she" and death "he." In Polish the endings suggest the gender in every animal name, kormoran is a masculine type, while "sowa," owl, is feminine because it ends with "a."

I didn't mean to offend you, but since you are the English professor, I figured that you would know my choice was only a personal one and not influenced linguistically...

Post by Bonobo on Oct 6, 2018 22:10:23 GMT 1

I am talking about English. You said you prefer to use gender specific pronouns. I thought that your choice of "he" for a bird is somehow influenced linguistically, like you always call ships "she" and death "he." In Polish the endings suggest the gender in every animal name, kormoran is a masculine type, while "sowa," owl, is feminine because it ends with "a."

I didn't mean to offend you, but since you are the English professor, I figured that you would know my choice was only a personal one and not influenced linguistically...

How come you couldn't read my mind??

That`s because after so many years in the business I have already learnt that nothing is impossible (sic!) and one, whether native or not, can say/mean/suggest anything. Especially when I look through my private students` copybooks and I see such things as The lunch had been being eaten or Where are you come from? provided by their "English" teachers! So, how should I know if there is or isn`t a strict masculine pronoun designation for birds? I might have missed something after all when I skipped classes at uni for more interesting stuff, mightn`t I ? I wasn`t such a diligent student as you think I was.

Post by jeanne on Oct 7, 2018 1:21:45 GMT 1

I didn't mean to offend you, but since you are the English professor, I figured that you would know my choice was only a personal one and not influenced linguistically...

How come you couldn't read my mind??

That`s because after so many years in the business I have already learnt that nothing is impossible (sic!) and one, whether native or not, can say/mean/suggest anything. Especially when I look through my private students` copybooks and I see such things as The lunch had been being eaten or Where are you come from? provided by their "English" teachers! So, how should I know if there is or isn`t a strict masculine pronoun designation for birds? I might have missed something after all when I skipped classes at uni for more interesting stuff, mightn`t I ? I wasn`t such a diligent student as you think I was.

Did I ever say I think you were a diligent student??? I don't remember saying that.... What I think is that you probably had a lot of fun at university in addition to studying.

But I do assume that you have picked up a LOT of information working as a teacher...it just goes to show, ONCE AGAIN, that one should never assume!!(...though I think I'm probably correct in my assumption in this case...despite the bird-gender controversy!)

Post by Bonobo on Oct 7, 2018 9:04:15 GMT 1

Did I ever say I think you were a diligent student??? I don't remember saying that.... What I think is that you probably had a lot of fun at university in addition to studying.

But I do assume that you have picked up a LOT of information working as a teacher...it just goes to show, ONCE AGAIN, that one should never assume!!(...though I think I'm probably correct in my assumption in this case...despite the bird-gender controversy!)

Yes, I admitted to fun loving attitude at uni and not only in another thread.

I picked info but the language is a living creature and it changes. How should I know if certain professor of linguistic at the University of North Carolina didn`t suggest US citizens obligatory use "he" for US birds in one of his speeches, lectures or dissertations???

Post by Bonobo on Feb 28, 2019 22:05:03 GMT 1

Sometimes animals must be saved by people from other people. A 60 yo woman tried to be good when she picked up stray cats from the city and brought them home until the amount reached 26 and she couldn`t control it anymore.

Post by Bonobo on Mar 3, 2019 15:17:58 GMT 1

A lot of animals are rescued in Poland each year. Sometimes it costs a lot of money and time. But I am not sure if Polish rescuers would be so noble like those German firefighters who saved a rat which got stuck in the manhole lid.